Method for controlling the power of the output signal from an amplifier system and the associated system

Abstract

Filtered digital information representative of the power of an output signal from an amplifier is generated, and control information from a setpoint representative of a desired power for the output signal is generated from the desired response time for the establishment of the power and from a model to be followed for the establishment. In addition, a gain control and a bias current control are established for each initial variable-gain amplifier from the filtered digital information, from the control information and from a polynomial digital regulation of the RST type whose polynomial coefficients are determined from input parameters comprising characteristics of each variable-gain amplifier and from characteristics of the filter generating the filtered digital information.

1. A method for controlling power of an output signal from an amplifier system comprising at least one variable-gain amplifier receiving an incident signal, the method comprising:
 generating filtered digital information based on sampling the output signal from the at least one variable-gain amplifier, the sampled output signal being representative of the power of the output signal; 
 generating control information based upon a setpoint that is representative of a desired power for the output signal, with the setpoint being different from the sampled output signal from the at least one variable-gain amplifier, and based upon a filter receiving the setpoint and having a transfer function for establishing the power in a desired response time; and 
 establishing as separate inputs a gain control and a bias current control for the at least one variable-gain amplifier based upon the filtered digital information, based upon the control information, and based upon a polynomial digital regulation of the RST type, the polynomial digital regulation of the RST type having polynomial coefficients being determined based upon input parameters comprising characteristics of the at least one variable-gain amplifier and based upon characteristics of a filter generating the filtered digital information. 
 
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the incident signal comprises a modulated signal having a varying envelope. 
     
     
       3. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one variable-gain amplifier comprises a plurality of variable-gain amplifiers including a first variable-gain amplifier and a last variable-gain amplifier; wherein the amplifier system further comprises a variable-gain output amplifier connected to an output of the last variable-gain amplifier; and further comprising establishing a gain control and a bias current control for the variable-gain output amplifier based upon the setpoint and without passing through the polynomial digital regulation of the RST type. 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amplifier system comprises at least one frequency transposition mixer, and further comprising establishing a bias current control and a gain control for the at least one frequency transposition mixer. 
     
     
       5. A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the input parameters comprise response times and orders of transfer functions for each variable-gain amplifier and the variable-gain output amplifier, a time constant of the filter generating the filtered digital information, and a frequency band to be rejected. 
     
     
       6. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the gain control and the bias current control for the at least one variable-gain amplifier are further based upon an output signal from the polynomial digital regulation of the RST type and from at least one correspondence table. 
     
     
       7. An amplifier system for controlling power of an output signal therefrom, the amplifier system comprising:
 at least one variable-gain amplifier receiving an incident signal; 
 a first generation circuit being configured to sample the output signal from said at least one variable-gain amplifier for generating filtered digital information that is representative of the power of the output signal; 
 a filter receiving a setpoint that is representative of a desired power for the output signal, with the setpoint being different from the sampled output signal from said at least one variable-gain amplifier, said filter having a transfer function for establishing the power in a desired response time and generating control information; and 
 a control module comprising a polynomial digital regulator of the RST type for establishing as separate inputs a gain control and a bias current control for said at least one variable-gain amplifier based upon the filtered digital information and based upon the control information, said polynomial digital regulator of the RST type having polynomial coefficients being determined based upon input parameters comprising characteristics of said at least one variable-gain amplifier and based upon filtering characteristics of said first generation circuit. 
 
     
     
       8. An amplifier system according to  claim 7 , wherein the incident signal comprises a modulated signal having a varying envelope. 
     
     
       9. An amplifier system according to  claim 7 , wherein said polynomial digital regulator of the RST type comprises a plurality of digital filters each with a finite pulse response, said plurality of digital filters comprising a filter R receiving the filtered digital information, a filter T receiving the control information and a filter 1/S delivering an output signal. 
     
     
       10. An amplifier system according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one variable-gain amplifier comprises a plurality of variable-gain amplifiers including a first variable-gain amplifier and a last variable-gain amplifier; and further comprising:
 a variable-gain output amplifier connected at an output of said last variable-gain amplifier; and 
 a switch-mode power supply and a digital-to-analog converter for establishing a gain control and a bias current control for said variable-gain output amplifier based upon the setpoint and without passing through said polynomial digital regulator of the RST type. 
 
     
     
       11. An amplifier system according to  claim 7 , wherein said first generation circuit comprise:
 a sampling circuit for sampling the output signal; 
 a filter connected downstream of said sampling circuit; and 
 an analog-to-digital converter connected downstream of said filter and delivering the filtered digital information. 
 
     
     
       12. An amplifier system according to  claim 7 , further comprising at least one frequency transposition mixer; and wherein said control module establishes a bias current control and a gain control for said at least one frequency transposition mixer. 
     
     
       13. An amplifier system according to  claim 11 , wherein the input parameters comprise response times and orders of transfer functions for said at least one variable-gain amplifier, a time constant of said filter generating the filtered digital information, and a frequency band to be rejected. 
     
     
       14. An amplifier system according to  claim 7 , wherein said control module further comprises at least one correspondence table, and wherein the gain control and the bias current control for said at least one variable-gain amplifier are further based upon an output signal from said polynomial digital regulation of the RST type and from said at least one correspondence table. 
     
     
       15. A cellular mobile telephone comprising:
 a transmission circuit comprising an amplifier system for controlling power of an output signal therefrom, said amplifier system comprising
 at least one variable-gain amplifier receiving an incident signal, 
 a first generation circuit being configured to sample the output signal from said at least one variable-gain amplifier for generating filtered digital information that is representative of the power of the output signal, 
 a filter receiving a setpoint that is representative of a desired power for the output signal, with the setpoint being different from the sampled output signal from said at least one variable-gain amplifier, said filter having a transfer function for establishing the power in a desired response time and generating control information, and 
 a control module comprising a polynomial digital regulator of the RST type for establishing as separate inputs a gain control and a bias current control for said at least one variable-gain amplifier based upon the filtered digital information and based upon the control information, said polynomial digital regulator of the RST type having polynomial coefficients being determined based upon input parameters comprising characteristics of said at least one variable-gain amplifier and based upon filtering characteristics of said first generation circuit. 
 
 
     
     
       16. A cellular mobile telephone according to  claim 15 , wherein the incident signal comprises a modulated signal having a varying envelope. 
     
     
       17. A cellular mobile telephone according to  claim 15 , wherein said polynomial digital regulator of the RST type comprises a plurality of digital filters each with a finite pulse response, said plurality of digital filters comprising a filter R receiving the filtered digital information, a filter T receiving the control information and a filter 1/S delivering an output signal. 
     
     
       18. A cellular mobile telephone according to  claim 15 , wherein said at least one variable-gain amplifier comprises a plurality of variable-gain amplifiers including a first variable-gain amplifier and a last variable-gain amplifier; said amplifier system further comprising:
 a variable-gain output amplifier connected at an output of said last variable-gain amplifier; and 
 a switch-mode power supply and a digital-to-analog converter for establishing a gain control and a bias current control for said variable-gain output amplifier based upon the setpoint and without passing through said polynomial digital regulator of the RST type. 
 
     
     
       19. A cellular mobile telephone according to  claim 15 , wherein said first generation circuit comprise:
 a sampling circuit for sampling the output signal; 
 a filter connected downstream of said sampling circuit; and 
 an analog-to-digital converter connected downstream of said filter and delivering the filtered digital information. 
 
     
     
       20. A cellular mobile telephone according to  claim 15 , wherein said amplifier system further comprises at least one frequency transposition mixer; and wherein said control module establishes a bias current control and a gain control for said at least one frequency transposition mixer. 
     
     
       21. A cellular mobile telephone according to  claim 19 , wherein the input parameters comprise response times and orders of transfer functions for said at least one variable-gain amplifier, a time constant of said filter generating the filtered digital information, and a frequency band to be rejected. 
     
     
       22. A cellular mobile telephone according to  claim 15 , wherein said control module further comprises at least one correspondence table, and wherein the gain control and the bias current control for said at least one variable-gain amplifier are further based upon an output signal from said polynomial digital regulation of the RST type and front said at least one correspondence table.